England wicketkeeper-batsman continues his rich vein of form in One-Day Internationals
Jos Buttler
Southampton:
With a home World Cup just weeks away, Buttler’s 110 not out, which saw him reach three figures off just 50 balls, was another reminder of his match-winning ability in white-ball cricket. This was Buttler’s eighth century in 129 matches, with the wicketkeeper-batter scoring 3,497 runs at an average of 42.
But what makes Buttler a particularly devastating batsman is his strike-rate of 119.88, a figure bettered only by West Indies’ Andre Russell (130.45) and Australia’s Glenn Maxwell (121.95). Russell, however, has scored only 998 runs in 52 ODIs, while Maxwell has made 2,700 in 100 matches.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur admitted he was at a loss about the best way to stop Buttler following the 28-year-old’s batting fireworks. “Oh, I don’t know, I’ve just asked the bowlers actually. They didn’t give me an answer either,” Arthur said after the visitor fell 0-1 behind in the five-match series. “We’ll sit down and analyse that and try to work out a plan. I don’t think we’re going to stop him, we’ve got to find a way to get him out. The longer he bats, he’s going to do some serious damage.”
England captain Eoin Morgan (71 not out) had arguably the best view in the ground while sharing an unbroken stand of 162 with Buttler. The duo took the host to 373 for three in its 50 overs. “He’s very good. I was in prime position to see the whole innings. His freakish knocks seem to be getting closer and closer together, so that’s a good sign for us moving forward,” said skipper Morgan.
“He seems to have a gear that not many of us have. It’s great to watch. He always seems to have enough balls to get a 50-ball hundred.”
How do you stop Jos Buttler? It was a question that was asked again as the talented batsman’s latest One-Day International hundred saw England to a 12-run win over Pakistan in the second 50-over match here on Saturday.
With a home World Cup just weeks away, Buttler’s 110 not out, which saw him reach three figures off just 50 balls, was another reminder of his match-winning ability in white-ball cricket. This was Buttler’s eighth century in 129 matches, with the wicketkeeper-batter scoring 3,497 runs at an average of 42.
But what makes Buttler a particularly devastating batsman is his strike-rate of 119.88, a figure bettered only by West Indies’ Andre Russell (130.45) and Australia’s Glenn Maxwell (121.95). Russell, however, has scored only 998 runs in 52 ODIs, while Maxwell has made 2,700 in 100 matches.
Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur admitted he was at a loss about the best way to stop Buttler following the 28-year-old’s batting fireworks. “Oh, I don’t know, I’ve just asked the bowlers actually. They didn’t give me an answer either,” Arthur said after the visitor fell 0-1 behind in the five-match series. “We’ll sit down and analyse that and try to work out a plan. I don’t think we’re going to stop him, we’ve got to find a way to get him out. The longer he bats, he’s going to do some serious damage.”
England captain Eoin Morgan (71 not out) had arguably the best view in the ground while sharing an unbroken stand of 162 with Buttler. The duo took the host to 373 for three in its 50 overs. “He’s very good. I was in prime position to see the whole innings. His freakish knocks seem to be getting closer and closer together, so that’s a good sign for us moving forward,” said skipper Morgan.
“He seems to have a gear that not many of us have. It’s great to watch. He always seems to have enough balls to get a 50-ball hundred.”